How to move LINE to a new phone, with your chat history intact
The two transfer methods LINE actually supports, how backing up chats differs between iPhone and Android, what to do before you start, and the one step most people miss that stops phone-number verification from working.
Hızlı yanıt
- LINE supports two official transfer paths: moving with the same phone number, using the in-app QR-code transfer (or the account transfer feature) between old and new device, or moving to a new number, which requires re-verifying the account with the phone number or email tied to it.
- Chat backups are OS-specific — an iPhone backs up to iCloud, Android backs up to Google Drive — and a backup made on one platform cannot be restored on the other. Always back up chats on the old phone before doing anything else.
- The most common failure point is trying to verify the account on the new phone before that phone number is actually active there, so the SMS code or verification call never arrives. Get the SIM or eSIM tied to that number working on the new phone first, then start LINE's verification.
The two ways LINE supports moving to a new phone
LINE builds account transfer around two main paths, depending on whether the phone number tied to your account is changing. The first is moving with the same number, using the QR-code scan between old and new device (some app versions label this Transfer account, or tuck it inside an account-related menu); it does not always require logging out first the way older versions did. The second is moving to a new phone that will use a different number, which requires re-verifying the whole account through the phone number or email tied to it.
iPhone backs up to iCloud, Android to Google Drive — and the two do not cross over
The most important limitation to understand is that LINE keeps chat backups OS-specific rather than storing them on its own servers in a way that crosses platforms.
| OS | Backs up to | Sınırlama |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | iCloud | Restorable only on another iPhone signed into the same iCloud account |
| Android | Google Drive (via LINE's Keep/Backup feature) | Restorable only on an Android device signed into the same Google account |
A backup made on one side cannot be restored on the other — this is a well-known LINE limitation, not a mistake on your part.
What to do before you start moving anything
- 11. Back up chats on the old phone before anything elseOpen LINE on the old phone and look for the chat-backup menu around Settings > Chats > Backup, then finish backing up to iCloud (iPhone) or Google Drive (Android) before touching any transfer or log-out menu.
- 22. Confirm the account has a working phone number or email attachedCheck the Account menu that a phone number or email you can still access is attached to the account — this is what lets the new device log back into the same account. If the old number is no longer in use and there is no backup email, sort that out before moving devices.
- 33. Get the new phone's number or eSIM working before you verifyIf the LINE account is tied to a phone number, that number needs to be able to receive an SMS or call on the new phone before you tap verify in the app — not after.
The most common failure point: the verification code never arrives
A lot of people set up the new phone, open LINE straight away, and try to verify with the old number — while the SIM or eSIM tied to that number is not yet active on the new device. The result is that the SMS code or verification call never arrives, because the number has no signal on the device that is waiting to receive it.
This comes up especially often while travelling — changing phones mid-trip, or setting up a new one only after arriving. The most direct fix is to install and activate the eSIM so the new phone has working data and a working number first, then open LINE to verify. The full eSIM installation steps are in the guide linked below.
Same number vs a new number: what actually changes
- Same number: use the QR-code scan between old and new device as the app prompts — this confirms account ownership directly through the old phone, without waiting on an SMS
- New number: there is no old device to scan a QR against, or the number tied to the account is changing, so you verify through the new number (receiving an SMS or call) or through the account's linked email
- Both paths carry over friends, groups and account settings; the full chat history still always depends on the OS-specific backup/restore, regardless of whether the number stays the same or changes
Do not expect every last thing to transfer perfectly
A short checklist before you move devices
- Finish backing up chats on the old phone first (iCloud for iPhone, Google Drive for Android)
- Confirm the account is tied to a phone number or email you can still access
- If moving across platforms (iPhone ↔ Android), expect the full chat history may not come across as completely as a same-OS move
- Activate the number or eSIM on the new phone so it can actually receive SMS/calls before tapping verify in LINE
- After the move, check friends, groups and purchased stickers — if anything is missing, try restoring it separately from the account menus
SSS
Do I need to log out of LINE on the old phone first?+
For a same-number move via the QR/Transfer account flow, logging out first is not always required the way many people assume, but you should always finish backing up chats before starting the transfer, just in case.
Can I back up chats on iPhone and restore them on Android?+
No. An iCloud backup can only be restored on an iPhone, and Android can only restore a Google Drive backup created from an Android device. This is a limitation of LINE's own backup system.
I tried to verify but the SMS code never arrived — what now?+
The most common cause is that the SIM or eSIM tied to that number is not yet active on the new phone. Check first whether the new phone can receive an ordinary call or SMS from someone else. If not, finish installing or activating the SIM/eSIM, then try verifying in LINE again.
My purchased stickers disappeared after moving devices — what do I do?+
Purchased stickers are tied to the account, not the device. Go into the sticker-management area of your LINE account on the new phone and look for an option to restore previous purchases — they normally come back without needing to buy again.
Do I always have to wait for the eSIM to activate before moving LINE?+
Only when LINE needs to send a verification code to a phone number — during re-verification, or when moving to a new number. If you are transferring with the same number via a direct QR scan between old and new device, you do not necessarily need that number's signal beforehand. But whenever the flow asks for SMS or call verification, the new phone needs that number's signal working first, every time.
Instagram ve TikTok'ta web paylaşım düğmesi olmadığından, telefonunuzun paylaşım menüsünü açıyoruz veya bağlantıyı kopyalıyoruz.